A7048 HCPCS code: Vacuum drainage collection unit and tubing kit, including all supplies needed for collection unit change, for use with implanted catheter, each
A7048 is the HCPCS Level II code for vacuum drainage collection unit and tubing kit, including all supplies needed for collection unit change, for use with implanted catheter, each. The 2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule pays $58.86 to $64.72 depending on the state. Its Medicare coverage code is C (Carrier judgment): Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case. The NCCI unit limit is 2 per day on outpatient hospital claims. Medicare volume rose 196% from 2022 to 2024 (43,944 to 129,904 services). In 2024, about 15 clinicians billed Medicare for A7048 for 3,251 beneficiaries; Ohio, Arizona, Florida accounted for 96% of services. Its average fee ranks 3 of 4 A70 codes (family range $0.41–$107.55).
Code details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Section | A codes — Transportation, medical/surgical supplies and miscellaneous |
| Coverage code | C — Carrier judgment |
| Pricing indicator | 38 — DMEPOS: orthotics, prosthetics, prosthetic devices and vision services |
| BETOS category | D1F — Prosthetic and orthotic devices |
| Added | 2015-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 2015-01-01 |
2026 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule for A7048
| Modifier | Meaning | Lowest state fee | Highest state fee | Ceiling | Floor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | base fee | $58.86 | $64.72 | $71.85 | $53.88 |
| State | Modifier | Fee | Rural fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | — | $58.86 | — |
| AL | — | $60.63 | — |
| AR | — | $60.62 | — |
| AZ | — | $58.86 | — |
| CA | — | $58.86 | — |
| CO | — | $61.06 | — |
| CT | — | $58.86 | — |
| DC | — | $58.86 | — |
| DE | — | $58.86 | — |
| FL | — | $60.63 | — |
| GA | — | $60.63 | — |
| HI | — | $58.86 | — |
| IA | — | $60.01 | — |
| ID | — | $58.86 | — |
| IL | — | $60.33 | — |
| IN | — | $60.33 | — |
| KS | — | $60.01 | — |
| KY | — | $60.63 | — |
| LA | — | $60.62 | — |
| MA | — | $58.86 | — |
| MD | — | $58.86 | — |
| ME | — | $58.86 | — |
| MI | — | $60.33 | — |
| MN | — | $60.33 | — |
| MO | — | $60.01 | — |
| MS | — | $60.63 | — |
| MT | — | $61.06 | — |
| NC | — | $60.63 | — |
| ND | — | $61.06 | — |
| NE | — | $60.01 | — |
| NH | — | $58.86 | — |
| NJ | — | $58.86 | — |
| NM | — | $60.62 | — |
| NV | — | $58.86 | — |
| NY | — | $58.86 | — |
| OH | — | $60.33 | — |
| OK | — | $60.62 | — |
| OR | — | $58.86 | — |
| PA | — | $58.86 | — |
| PR | — | $64.72 | — |
| RI | — | $58.86 | — |
| SC | — | $60.63 | — |
| SD | — | $61.06 | — |
| TN | — | $60.63 | — |
| TX | — | $60.62 | — |
| UT | — | $61.06 | — |
| VA | — | $58.86 | — |
| VI | — | $64.72 | — |
| VT | — | $58.86 | — |
| WA | — | $58.86 | — |
| WI | — | $60.33 | — |
| WV | — | $58.86 | — |
| WY | — | $61.06 | — |
How the A7048 fee compares
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Rank among 4 A70 codes (lowest = 1) | 3 |
| Family fee range (average of state fees) | $0.41–$107.55 |
| Rural fee uplift | — |
Who bills A7048 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Clinicians billing (by place of service) | 15 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 3,251 |
| States with claims | 5 |
| Share of services in top 3 states (Ohio, Arizona, Florida) | 96% |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for A7048, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 43,944 | 1,031 | $50.62 | $40.14 |
| 2023 | 138,326 | 3,557 | $55.14 | $43.77 |
| 2024 | 129,904 | 3,251 | $56.42 | $44.87 |
States with the most A7048 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 92,064 | $45.16 |
| Arizona | 19,542 | $43.52 |
| Florida | 13,688 | $45.21 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,372 | $43.50 |
| Washington | 2,223 | $43.82 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| outpatient hospital claims | 2 | Clinical: CMS Workgroup |
| practitioner claims | 2 | Clinical: Data |
What changed for A7048
- 2026-01-01: Average state fee rose 2.0%: $58.84 to $60.02
- 2015-01-01: A7048 added to HCPCS Level II
- Next scheduled CMS quarterly update (HCPCS and DMEPOS fee schedule): 2027-01-01
Frequently asked questions
What is HCPCS code A7048?
A7048 is the HCPCS Level II code for vacuum drainage collection unit and tubing kit, including all supplies needed for collection unit change, for use with implanted catheter, each. Short descriptor: "Vacuum drain bottle/tube kit".
How much does Medicare pay for A7048?
Under the 2026 DMEPOS fee schedule, non-rural state fees are base (base fee): $58.86–$64.72. Rural fees can be higher.
Does Medicare cover A7048?
Coverage code C — Carrier judgment. Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.
Did the Medicare fee for A7048 change in 2026?
The average non-rural state fee moved from $58.84 in 2025 to $60.02 in 2026 (+2.0%). CMS's next quarterly HCPCS and DMEPOS update takes effect January 1, 2027.
How many units of A7048 can be billed per day?
2 on outpatient hospital claims; 2 on practitioner claims (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related A70 codes
- A7000 — Canister, disposable, used with suction pump, each ($9.24–$13.39)
- A7001 — Canister, non-disposable, used with suction pump, each ($40.06–$47.58)
- A7002 — Tubing, used with suction pump, each ($3.87–$5.47)
- A7003 — Administration set, with small volume nonfiltered pneumatic nebulizer, disposable ($1.86–$3.26)
- A7004 — Small volume nonfiltered pneumatic nebulizer, disposable ($1.51–$2.08)
- A7005 — Administration set, with small volume nonfiltered pneumatic nebulizer, non-disposable ($11.77–$29.20)
- A7006 — Administration set, with small volume filtered pneumatic nebulizer ($8.19–$14.94)
- A7007 — Large volume nebulizer, disposable, unfilled, used with aerosol compressor ($3.47–$5.87)
- A7008 — Large volume nebulizer, disposable, prefilled, used with aerosol compressor ($12.46–$18.09)
- A7009 — Reservoir bottle, non-disposable, used with large volume ultrasonic nebulizer ($54.00–$66.77)
- A7010 — Corrugated tubing, disposable, used with large volume nebulizer, 100 feet ($17.61–$27.19)
- A7011 — Corrugated tubing, non-disposable, used with large volume nebulizer, 10 feet
Building a device that would bill under a code like this? Caduvo matches a device description to HCPCS/CPT codes, Medicare coverage and payment, and the FDA pathway in one report.
Next steps
- Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under A7048
- Watch A7048 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for A7048
Sources: CMS HCPCS Level II release October 2026; CMS DMEPOS fee schedule 2026; CMS NCCI MUE tables; CMS Medicare utilization (physician and DME supplier files); CMS Medicare Coverage Database articles. Fees are Medicare allowables, not commercial rates. Not billing or legal advice.